Oklahoma Restricts Abortion Drugs

Gov. Mary Fallin signed a bill into law mandating that abortion-inducing drugs can only be used in first seven weeks of pregnancy, as per FDA guidelines. Opponents say the bill will force more women to get surgical abortions

Oklahoma’s Republican Governor Mary Fallin signed a bill Tuesday restricting the use of abortion-inducing drugs in the state.

The new measure requires doctors to administer certain abortion-inducing drugs in accordance with the Food and Drug Administration protocol, which dictate that the drugs must be given in higher doses than are typically used, and only in the first seven weeks of pregnancy.

Opponents of the bill argue that banning off-label use of the drugs will force more women to get surgical abortions after 49 days of pregnancy, according to the New York Times.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court recently struck down a similar bill that Gov. Fallin signed in 2011, saying it effectively outlawed the use of abortion-inducing drugs. This new bill was written in response to that ruling.

YOU BROKE TIME.COM!

Dear TIME Reader,

As a regular visitor to TIME.com, we are sure you enjoy all the great journalism created by our editors and reporters. Great journalism has great value, and it costs money to make it. One of the main ways we cover our costs is through advertising.

The use of software that blocks ads limits our ability to provide you with the journalism you enjoy.
Consider turning your Ad Blocker off so that we can continue to provide the world class journalism you have become accustomed to.